BIOGRAPHY

Dodson was born in Tunnelton, Preston County, West Virginia, USA, on 23 July 1875, as the second child born to parents James William Riley (1854–1920) and Louisa Cool (1855–1883). She had four siblings: Ida May Taylor (1874–1927), Asa Filmore Riley (1877–1931), Charles Clinton Riley (1880–1937), and Rosa Letitia Taylor (1883–1968). She lost her mother at the age of 8. Her father remarried in 1886, and had six more children.

In 1893, she married James Henry Dodson (1862–1951). The couple had eight children: Mabel (1895–1908), James Floyd (1897–1993), Merle (1899–1984), Bessie (1901–1960), Clifford Earl (1903–1930), Glenn Asa (1906–1956), Harry (1908–2006), Nellie Blanche (1910–2001). Between 1900 and 1906, the family lived on a farm in Scotts Mills in Oregon. Later, they established a homestead in Canada and constructed their home in 1918.

In 1953, two years upon her husband’s passing, she moved from Canada to Prineville, Oregon. She lived there until around 1982 (when she was in her late 100s), when she moved to Salem to live with her daughter-in-law, Mildred. She was a member of Prineville Community Church.

At the time of her 110th birthday, three of her children were still living, and she had 20 grandchildren, 69 great-grandchildren, and 42 great-great-grandchildren. Her youngest half-siblings, John Edward Riley (1902–1988) and Daisy Anise Wiles (1905–2002), were living at the time, aged 83 and 80 respectively.

Dodson passed away in Salem, Oregon, USA, on 28 August 1985, at the age of 110 years, 36 days.

RECOGNITION

In July 1985, Dodson celebrated her 110th birthday, becoming the first supercentenarian in the U.S. state of Oregon. She held the record as the state’s longevity record holder until her final age was surpassed by Nina Rust (1881–1993) on 25 July 1991.

Dodson is the earliest recorded supercentenarian born in the state of West Virginia.

Her age was validated by LongeviQuest on 9 December 2023.

ATTRIBUTION

* Dicie Catherine Riley Dodson – Find A Grave

* “Celebrating 108 years” – unknown newspaper, 1983

* “110th birthday draws crowd from U.S., Canada” – Statesman Journal, 31 July 1985

* “Salem woman dies at 110” – Statesman Journal, 29 August 1985

GALLERY

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